Chapter 8 #3
“I always wanted a sister,” I blurt out. I bite my lip at my admission and notice Dominic catching the movement before meeting my eyes again. I peddle on, “Just having someone always there, to lean on I guess.” I finish my ice cream and prop my chin in my hands.
“Yeah.” Dominic sighs. “Me too.”
My heart drops. Well that was the stupidest thing to say. He just opened up about his estranged sister and here I am rubbing it in.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean—”
“I understand,” he says easily, his eyes meeting mine with warmth.
Suddenly I can’t think of a single right thing to say, or do, or…
I can’t even look away. Luckily, Dominic moves to collect our dishes.
He meanders behind the counter and to a back room where I hear him saying goodnight to Maria and promising he’ll come by more often.
I hear my name softly whispered but I can’t hear what is said after.
I grab my purse from the booth and make my way to the display case housing all the tubs of different flavours.
Rocky Road, Bubblegum, Cookie Dough…The Dominico.
He wasn’t kidding.
I giggle a little at the beautiful small calligraphy sign in front of the tub featuring pitch black ice cream. How fitting.
“You ready, Hoot?” I hear Dominic’s voice from behind me, the warmth of his breath tickling my bare shoulder.
That sensation of playfulness replaced by simmering tension sends a wave of goosebumps across my flesh.
I turn my head to look at him from over my shoulder and give him a small smile and a nod.
Maria comes out wiping her hands on a dish cloth and walks us out, smiling the whole way.
“Please come back anytime, Celestina. You are always welcome,” Maria says.
Before I can return the sentiment, she pulls me into what can only be classified as one of the world’s best hugs.
Once she releases me, she repeats the same to Dominic but with a bit of a tighter squeeze, if his wheezing is any indication.
As we step outside, I look up to see a deep navy hue, as if someone spilled a bottle of ink across the sky.
We’re far enough away from the big city to see stars and I take a moment to soak in the sight.
The lights of the ice cream shoppe flicker before shutting off, indicating Maria has closed it for the night, blanketing Dominic and me in darkness.
The stars twinkle a little brighter in the absence of the fluorescents.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” I murmur wistfully, my head tilted all the way back to look straight up at our galaxy.
“Stunning.” Dominic’s voice is soft, but unwavering all at once. I swivel my head from the sky to catch him looking directly back at me. There’s some emotion on his face I can’t quite register in the darkness.
“I know you’re a strong, independent woman Hoot, and probably have excellent night vision, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you walk back to your car alone.”
I’m rendered a little speechless.
Why do I not have words around this guy?!
“Um, yeah. Okay, thanks,” I end up squeaking out. “But where do you live?” I ask and immediately mentally chastise myself for sounding like a stalker.
He cracks a smile and points in the opposite direction. “Over there.”
“Okay so why don’t I walk you home?” I counter, as we walk in the direction of my car anyway.
“Because that kind of goes against your whole damsel in distress thing, doesn’t it?” Dominic quirks a brow at me.
“That’s not…I don’t need to do that with you. You’re easy.”
Dominic’s head whips my way and I slam my jaw shut.
Girl, what the actual fuck is wrong with you.
Dominic’s throaty laugh is hearty and I’m instantly mad at the beautiful sky for being so dark rendering me unable to see his full smile in all its glory. Now that I’ve witnessed it a few times, I can’t seem to get enough.
“Easy, eh? Okay, I’ll remember that,” he teases.
“Ugh! What I meant was, I don’t have to use my…
I don’t know what to call it, pick up line?
Pick up…action? Whatever. I don’t have to do that with you.
We can just talk. Just…be ourselves.” I feel like every time I open my mouth, I dig myself a little deeper into a hole I eventually won’t be able to crawl out of.
“I get it, Hoot, I really like—” Dominic begins, but a loud crashing echoes from down the alleyway we just passed, halting his words.
I nearly jump out of my skin clutching onto Dominic’s chest, his sweater tight in my fists.
Our heads simultaneously swivel to see a fat raccoon waddling its way across the street to raid another garbage can.
It sees us and scampers away. I release the breath I was holding and feel Dominic’s arms are wrapped around my waist, holding my body against his.
We both slowly realize just how tangled up in each other we are as we turn our attention from the trash panda to our embrace.
We both seem frozen to the spot, unable to move, unable to speak.
I’m close enough this time to see his eyes darken.
My tongue darts out to wet my bottom lip, the memory of Dominic licking ice cream off his spoon flashing through my mind.
I blink and within a second I’m instantly cold, Dominic having pulled his arms away and hands shoved firmly in his pockets.
I’m left with such a chill I almost feel desperate enough to ask him to come back.
But that look he had a moment ago has evaporated.
Right. He’s my matchmaker in this experiment, a co-conspirator.
That’s why it’s so easy to just be around him, he’s not a candidate.
I shove my purse a little higher on my shoulder and clear my throat that feels sticky with an emotion I can’t name.
I look over to see my bright yellow Punch Buggy sitting alone in the empty parking lot. Just as I’m about to offer a ride home to Dominic, he speaks quickly, “So let me know how the date goes with George.”
“Who?” I ask, feeling so discombobulated.
“The political science major who’s number I got for you,” he says without meeting my gaze. I nod on instinct, feeling like a bobble head as we walk back to my car, but Dominic’s feet are firmly planted ten feet away.
“Okay, well this is me…” I stop, standing halfway between Dominic and my car.
What do I do with my arms right now.
“Okay,” he says, his tone clipped.
“Okay,” I awkwardly reply.
“So let me know how the date goes…” He squints his eyes shut.
“Yeah, you said that. Alright, bye…Um, thank you for the ice cream.” I shuffle to open my door, fumble to sit in my dress, and just before I close it a hand shoots out, holding it open. My wide eyes lock with his.
“Hoot, just text me so I know you got home safe.” Dominic says in a single breath, as if the words tumbled out without his permission. He’s looking at me from above my open car door like whatever my reply is, is crucial to his existence.
“I can do that,” I say with a smile. His returning half smile beams back at me. He gently closes my door, throws me a wave, and begins walking in the direction of his own place.
I make the short drive from the cafe parking lot to my house in about fifteen minutes.
It’s a bit of a chilly summer night but I can’t shake the bubbling warmth that’s been popping in my belly since I first saw Dominic tonight.
I greet my mom on the couch who’s watching some real housewives show with a cozy knit blanket draped over her legs.
“How was the date?” she asks, tilting her head back to see me from where I stand in the foyer.
“It was great,” I say reflexively, pulling my phone out from my purse and running up the worn-down steps to my bedroom.
“Talk more tomorrow. Goodnight. Love you!” I call down from my door before collapsing on my bed.
I hold my phone above my face and hope I don’t drop it as I type out a message to Dominic as promised.
Home Safe!!
Nope. Too excited. I erase the text and try again.
Home - hope the raccoons didn’t getcha!
Yikes. Erase.
Home
That’ll do, I guess. I send it off and begin chewing on my thumbnail, barely blinking as I stare at my one word message. I switch to the text thread between Delaney and I, notifications indicating I have several unread messages from her.
Lane
So I went into B&B the other day to scope out Dominic for myself (because why else am I your best friend?) and he is HOT.
Like if he didn’t have a penis I’d be all up on that. He seems nice btw. We chatted for a bit, you know, recon.
Imagine if he had a sister?! OMG lesbian heaven
Giggles bubble out of me at how ridiculous my best friend is and I smile in appreciation at her taking the time to scope out Dominic.
I reply with an eye roll and kissy emojis.
A text from Dominic pops up, my heart rate spiking at his nickname appearing at the top of my screen.
I flip over onto my stomach to open the conversation.
Peggy
Glad the raccoons didn’t get you.
I snicker quietly as a dumb grin spreads across my face. The bubbles in my belly fizzing deliciously, making me feel tipsy.
I type back, “Night, xo” and quickly send it.
Wait, why did I put an XO?
I guess friends can do XO too? Right? Before I can overthink every single letter, a reply comes in. I swallow and open it.
Night Hoot xo